Rothamsted Manor

Rothamsted Manor is a country house displaying Dutch architectural influences, with core sections built in the 1600s. The building features characteristic design elements from that era and sits within grounds that include gardens and other period structures.

The estate first appears in records around 1212 under Richard de Merston's ownership, with documents from 1221 noting a house, chapel, and garden. In 1623, the Wittewronge family, who had fled religious persecution in Ghent, purchased the manor and reshaped it according to Dutch building principles.

The manor serves as part of a working agricultural research facility that has shaped farming practices for generations. Visitors walking through the grounds encounter a place where scientific study and country life continue to intersect today.

The manor is about 30 minutes by train from London, with convenient access via Harpenden station, or roughly 10 minutes from motorway junction 9 if driving. Since the site functions as an active research center, visits typically require advance planning or attendance at organized events.

The manor preserves uncommon documentary records about its own reshaping in the 1600s, showing how Dutch refugees influenced English country architecture. This connection between Continental craftspeople and rural England remains visible in the house's physical features today.

Location: Harpenden Rural

GPS coordinates: 51.80590,-0.36930

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:10